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We note with sadness the death on Friday 22nd September of a member of our congregation; Mrs Margaret Henderson of Ashgill. Funeral service will be held on Monday 2nd October, 12.30 p.m. at Co-op Parlour and 1.15 p.m. at South Lanarkshire Crematorium.Please remember her family and friends at this time.

We note with sadness the death on Friday 8th September of a member of our congregation; Mrs Anderson, of Hamilton. Funeral service will be held on Monday 18th September, 2.00 p.m. at South Lanarkshire Crematorium. Please remember her family and friends at this time.

With sadness we announce the death on Tuesday 6th June of Mr Arthur Lindsay. His funeral service will be a private family committal followed by a service of thanksgiving for everyone to attend at 11.00 a.m. in the church on Saturday 17th June. Please remember his family and friends in your prayers.

Could anyone who is available to help at the service please inform Joanne.

A service of thanksgiving will take place in St John’s Church on Thursday 4th May at 10.30 a.m. followed by a burial service at Balgay Cemetery in Dundee at 3.00 p.m.

Born on 11th July 1933 to Ernest and Elizabeth Chalmers, Betty was the youngest of five siblings. Betty was no stranger to sadness in her life. Her father died in a car accident when she was just 18 months old and so childhood, particularly during war time, was not always easy even within the supportive and loving family that sheltered her. Betty was involved in the life of the church from an early age, although she acknowledged that it was actually at a Billy Graham rally that a significant moment was created, when she heard that ‘still small voice’ and committed her life to Christ and working in his service. With Jimmy she found her partner in life and their lives were woven together from the time he first arrived as the new assistant in St David’s Church in Dundee. She wasn’t very keen on him at first but he won her over and they were married in 1956. In marrying Jimmy, Betty took on the role not just of being his wife but also of being the ‘minister’s wife’ – which is another thing entirely. As wife and mother, Betty was able to create a wealth of happy memories for herself, for Jimmy and for both Thelma and Ingrid, their daughters. In terms of Betty’s service within the church, whichever church that might have been, she served within Young women’s groups, she served the Guild as president, the World Day of prayer committee as organiser, she baked, she sang in the choir, she fundraised for Well Hall Home, she took on a Social Responsibility role and is certainly famous here for selling the Crossreach calendars and for making sure (even when she couldn’t be around in person) that they were still sold on an annual basis. She also organised collections for the leprosy mission and deep sea fishermen and created an abiding memory for Thelma of opening all the envelopes and counting all the money which must have been a rather mammoth task. Betty also saw her family grow when Thelma married Stefan, and then again when Alasdair, her first grandchild, was born. Sadly Jimmy died in 1989, a loss that she would always feel, but in that same year there was also a joy for the family when Kirstin, her second grandchild was born. The family continued to grow with Ingrid marrying Phil, and then Craig, and then Inese also became part of Betty’s family. She had room for them all, love for them all, wisdom and encouragement for them all – Betty’s gifts were exhaustive and inclusive. She was interested in people, in their stories and how she could help those who needed extra support. She made an impact on so many lives that her influence will live on even as she has gone from our sight. For Betty, and for all she accomplished throughout the years of her life, we give thanks to God.